Hospital staff hooked the man up to a ventilator to assist with his breathing.

Paramedics treated the driver of the van at the scene for shock.

Fife police are appealing for witnesses to the accident.

David McCulloch, Head of Road Policing said: “My officers are currently trying to piece together the circumstances of this accident and I would appeal to any member of the public who may have witnessed this accident to contact us by calling 0845 600 5702.”

Annette Gallacher, 53, works as a counter assistant at the nearby Brigg Fish Bar.

She said: “We were quite busy at the time but I heard the bang of the lorry.

“At first I thought it had just hit the wall but then he reversed and I saw the man lying there, he looked like he was in a bad way.

“The lorry had pinned him against the wall.

“A customer told me later that the silver car had tried to get round the lorry and the lorry had swerved to avoid hitting the car.

“It was one of those 10 ton John Lewis lorries.

“The police were there until about midnight and the road was closed.”

A police spokesman confirmed that the vehicle was a Luton van from John Lewis.